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“Of course.” She cleared her throat. “Absolutely. I’ll be there, just like your dad and I discussed.”
Watching the interaction from the sidelines, Garret attempted to harness the explosion of desire and was startled when the boy threw himself at Darcy and gave her a hug. Matt was usually reserved and shy, not one for making contact. Had he ever hugged Joss?
“Will you play Alien Racers with me?”
Darcy nodded, returning the embrace. “I sure will, sweetie. You’d better practice, though, because I got really good playing it on my breaks at the hotel.”
Matt released her with a grin. “You won’t beat me.”
“Matt?” Nick appeared in the doorway.
He hadn’t heard his brother walk down the hall or else he’d have headed Nick off. One look at Darcy’s face and his brother would know.
Garret watched, the knot in his gut growing, as Nick took in the scene. Darcy on the bed, a fiery blush remaining on her cheeks, and unable to make eye contact, Garret standing as far away from Darcy as possible, as if—
They were guilty of something.
He met Nick’s gaze briefly and knew that while Nick was curious about whatever was going on—something Garret would like to know himself—his brother was the last one in the family who’d judge.
“Matt, come on, we’ve got to go. Darcy, I’ll see you Saturday.”
“Um, yes. Thanks for getting my portable table out of the car and bringing it to me. I have three appointments here over the weekend.”
Nick nodded. “You’re on a roll. You’ll earn the money in no time. I’ll pick you up about twenty to ten.”
Darcy smiled at Nick in thanks, and Garret’s gut tightened in response. He didn’t want her smiling at Nick. And he didn’t have the right to want anything where she was concerned.
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
Garret ran a hand over his head and squeezed the muscles in his neck. Protective was sounding damn possessive.
“Matt?”
“I’m coming.” The boy shuffled off with one last wave to Darcy.
Garret stared at his feet. The ability to speak and say whatever needed to be said, the gift he’d relied on his whole life, didn’t appear. He had nothing but a truckload of guilt and self-recriminations. Emotions he couldn’t begin to name. Joss deserved better than him kissing another woman. Wanting another woman. He’d always despised men who strung women along, used them, uncaring of their feelings. He wasn’t like that. People expected more of him. He expected more of himself.
“It’s okay, Garret.”
He looked up to see Darcy watching him, her gaze much too astute.
“Believe me, I understand how complicated this is.”
“I didn’t mean to take advantage of your upset. That wasn’t my intent.”
A sad smile pulled at her lips. “I know. We’re both stressed and feeling…I don’t know. It’s no big deal, just a kiss.”
“You’re sure? You’re okay?”
Her chin raised, but her lashes lowered. “I’m fine.”
She didn’t look fine. She looked unhappy and dazed. And he felt like the lowest of the low because he had no right to make things worse. “I should go, too. Darcy, I’m sorry. That shouldn’t have happened.”
JOSS EMITTED a surprised shriek before clamping her hands over her mouth, staring in horror-filled shock at the sight that greeted her on the other side of her bedroom window. She’d tossed the drapes back to investigate a noise and there he was. Tobias glared at her, a hundred-eighty pounds of furious man. She glared right back. “What are youdoing?”
“Open up.”
She shook her head firmly back and forth.
